THE parents of a newly-wed bride have hit out at the owner of a chain of floristry market stalls who vanished after they paid for flowers for their daughter’s big day but did not supply the blooms.

William and Cynthia Brownlow handed over £175 to Klint’s Flowers at its Ashburner Street stall in February ahead of their daughter’s wedding on April 12.

But the couple, who live on the Ladybridge estate, became worried when the stall closed down soon after they had paid.

Mrs Brownlow said in phone calls to owner, Klint Turner, he assured them three times that, despite the closure of the stall, he would fulfil the commitment to supply flowers for the wedding of her daughter Lindsay Devonport to Joel Leigh at Bolton Parish Church.

As the day approached the bacame worried and, to make absolutely sure they had flowers, they visited Occasion Flowers in Plodder Lane, owned and run by Georgina Green.

It was then they were told by Mrs Green that two other families who had asked Klint’s Flowers to supply flowers for funerals had also been let down.

Mrs Brownlow said: “We have written off the £175 we paid Mr Turner.

“I became seriously concerned, when he stopped answering his mobile phone.”

It was a double blow for the Brownlows as the wedding reception had to be switched to Kilhey Court at Standish, following the closure of Bolton’s Egerton House, which was the original wedding venue.

The stall on Bolton Market, which was occupied by Klint’s Flowers, has now been taken over by Kay Blelloch — who has no connection with Mr Turner’s business.

Ms Blelloch said the Brownlows were one of two wedding families and one funeral customer who had visited the stall over failed commitments with flowers.

Klint’s Flowers was owned and run by 40-year-old Mr Turner, who had stalls at Preston, Bolton, Wigan, Bury and Blackburn.

He is also listed as director of Compbrake Motor Sport Ltd, based at Prescot on Merseyside, where he now works.

He lives in a barn conversion in Billinge near Wigan.When The Bolton News visited his home, Mr Turner admitted he had taken the Brownlows’ £175, but said he would not pay it back because the company Klint’s Flowers had ceased trading.

He added: “I owe tens of thousands of pounds to creditors and I have many letters from bailiffs.

“I had stalls in Preston, Bolton, Wigan, Bury and Blackburn and, at one time, I employed 20 people. But the recession hit us hard and it went under. I can’t comment any further than that.”